Page 174 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
Otherwise, worst case, Rufus was going to have to go on this adventure by himself.
As Brownie was worrying, Brightstar bowed his head low. He flicked one of his ears, but otherwise waited.
Donna reached out through their bonded connection to let Brownie know that she was alright. Her mare was going to try and do this. She was going to walk past the unicorn.
He’d apologized to her and told her he would respect her wishes from now on … including her desire for space.
Brownie got the feeling like he was on a quest and wasn’t able to simply leave and give them the road. Also, the mix of bush and vine and bramble that was the forest floor off the path didn’t look appealing to walk through. It looked prickly and branch-stabby.
Donna huffed but stood straighter herself. She didn’t make use of her active skill to race past, but calmly walked up to the unicorn … and then kept going. After the wagon was clear of Brightstar, Donna visibly relaxed. She swung her head around to look over her shoulder and whinnied at the unicorn.
Brownie caught Rufus flashing Brightstar a thumbs-up.
The unicorn stood straight again and bobbed us all a nod of his head before walking back to the middle of the road and taking his position once more.
Brownie thought that was going to be the last encounter on her trip to the Hollow … and it was, forher.
Rufus had his own encounter waiting for him at the gates of the city.
CHAPTER 105
A Little Bit Carnivorous
Rufus
Green Oak Hollow, otherwise commonly referred to as the Hollow, was the oldest city on this side of the continent, built by the elves who worshiped the great tree that was the Dark Enchanted Forest.
The Hollow Gorge was a dungeon south of Gren’s Keep, not to be mistaken with the Hollow.
Centuries ago, the Hollow elves managed the Hollow Gorgeandthe Green Oak Hollow, but now, they mostly stayed in their city.
Lithnilheim, the forest itself, was a benevolent dungeon spirit that had broken through to this world thousands of years ago. It was a part of the Green Oak Dungeon, a tower dungeon that stretched into the sky and looked like a giant green oak tree. The dungeon break had brought the elves here with it, and they’d created a home in the forests that burst from the high-level dungeon break. The descendants of those elves were the Hollow elves, and they had a culture all of their own.
It had been a millennium, and the generations of elves living on Valaria resembled very little to their dungeon born counterparts. Almost all of the thinking races came from dungeon breaks—except for the beastmen, humans, and selkies. Who, so far as anyone could tell, had never been found in a dungeon and thus native to this world.
The Hollow elves were born with the forest, and so they had been here since the beginning. They’d agreed to abide by Nilheim law, but it was a tentative relationship at best.
Lithnilheim was a wonderful forest to live in. Though it had a will of its own and enjoyed playing with weary travelers, once you became a citizen of the Dark Enchanted Forest, it mostly left you alone. Sometimes, it even helped out. If youasked it, Lithnilheim might move a meadow or bring you a lake or build you a house … but having the attention of a sentient forest was not advised. Who knew what else it would do with you once you had its attention?
Also, it was just a little bit carnivorous.
The elves worshiped the forest, and their city was built in a crescent moon shape formed along the roots of the tree branching out to either side. The city wall completed the full circle, and the entrance was directly opposite the great tree. The gate was wide, a part of the two-story city wall. The gate was also wide enough that a wagon could comfortably fit under the peaked roof dripping rainwater onto the path.
And standing under the gate was General Knolith.
The lizardkin held an enchanted parasol to keep off the rain, and at his belt hung his sword. He was in robes fit for dining in a palace, which were magical dry despite the weather. His long blue-gray hair flowed in a magically created breeze, probably a by-product of his high Charisma. Or a perk.
To the sides, the elven city guards were standing at attention and looking bored. I knew there were many more on top of the gate, and there had been some in the trees on the way here.
We weren’t stopped because I had my class active.
“Commander General.” Knolith nodded imperiously at me. He dipped his parasol in an arc to close it, and as he did, his clothing shifted into combat-appropriate attire: strapped pant legs that ended in steel-tipped leather shoes. A tunic and shirt that looked like a robe cut at the thigh and tied with a white cloth belt. Arm guards, wrapped with silk and bracers.
I had no idea why he chose silk; it was terribly clingy when wet, and not heavy enough to provide support like a durable cotton.
Perhaps it was arachne silk.
“Knolith.” I replied, leaning forward in the carriage.
